Tractor



TRACTOR Original Filed June 26, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. l, 1929. 1,697,331-

' W. F. SMITH TRACTOR Original Filed June 26, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR MJMJ ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 1, 1929.

naires stares raiserV oFF 1,697,331 ics.

WLLIAM F. SIVIIT, OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK, ASSG-NOR OF ONE-HALF T0 HERMAN A. SCHATZ, OF OUG-IKEEISIE, NEW YORK.

TRACTOR.'

Application filed June 26', 1924, Serial No. 722,580.r Renewed October 9, 1928.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in tractors particularly adapted for use with argicultural implement-s. Y

It is the object of the present invention to provide a tractor of simple but sturdy construction, and one that may be readily adapted for various phases of the work usually required of such devices.

With this object in view I provide a leveling arrangement devoid of any complicated and easily distorted parts. The leveling arrangement is so constructed that in addition to its usual function, by a simple adjustment it may be used also to control the raising and lowering of t-he tractor body without any relative displacement ofthe bull wheels. Furthermore, the device is adjustable so as to vary the limits within which the bull wheels may be relatively displaced.

rl`hel leveling arrangement ofthe present' embodiment of my invention is operated in a manner to rotate the bull wheels around an eccentric pivot point. In structures of this ',cliaracter, the bull wheels are particularly subject to side strains. This I counteract by so arranging the leveling device that it engages the bull wheels through the agency long stability thereof.

Other features of the present invention' have to do with improvements in the power transmission mechanism which, while not necessarily limited for use in the present combination, are particularly applicable tov The type of engine is, of course,

tractors. optional, though I prefer to use a one-cylinder internal combustion engine like the one disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 715.338, led May 2, 1924. In ac-v cordance with one of the features of the present invention the flywheel is secured to the crankshaft in a manner to minimize the strains. This is accomplished by using one of the crank webs as a means for keying the flywheel to the crankshaft, thus obviating the necessity of bolting the flywheel to a special flange provided on the crankshaft, or of employing other expensive and unreliable connecting means.

The engine and transmission units are enclosed within special chambers which, in the present case. are in the form of a single casing divided into compartments, Preferably,

spaced bars that insure the' pa.rtment,`but only at a rate .to insure proper lubrication of the parts enclosed therein. A

n constantlycirculating splash system of lubrication is thus obtained without the use of valves or pumps of any kind. A further advantage of this lubricating system is that the engine is allowed a liberal supply of oil at starting, butwhen once started, the excessive o il in the engine crank case is removedto where it is most needed.

` The oilingsystem herein disclosed is of particular importance when used in combination with air-cooled engines. lfn'enginesv of this type approximately 40% of the heat generated in the cylinder and combustion chamber is dissipated through the oil fog or vapor of the crank case coming in contact with the cylinder walls and piston. Obviously, the cooler the oil, the greater will be its cooling effect. In accordance with the present invention, the oil is circulated through the transmission case which has a relatively large developed surface for radiating heat, whereby the oil will befproperly l the time it is returned to the'ention and the appended claims.` While some of the features of the present invention have particularly to do with tractors, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many rofthe features herein disclosed are applicable also to other types of vehicles and to internal combustion engines generally.

In the drawings7 Fig. l is a vertical crosssection partly in elevation, Fig. 2 is a top view ofthe tractor partly in horizontal crosssection, and Fig. 3 illustrates parts of the crank case not shown in the other figures.

Referring new to the drawings, i. and 2 are two castings forming the lower and the Y the flywheel 3,

lmounted on crankshaft 10 which is supportedin suitable bearings'll and 12 provided in the end wallof the casing 1 and in the partition wall 5. 'llhecrankshaft 10 carries two crank webs 13 and 144on which is mounted, in the Well-known manner, the big end of the connectingv rod. The web 13 fits within a 'groove provided in a boss 15a of the latter being drawn against the crank 13 by means of screws 16. Thus the'crank-web 13 acts as a key for transmitting the rotation of flywheel 3 tov shafty l10', the screws 16 serving merely to hold the flywheel against the crank web 13. This construction reduces the cost of forging and machining, facilitates the mounting of the fiywheel on the shaft and stiffens the crankshaft and crank webs. The klateral stilfness and torsional rigidity of the crankshaft is increased, and the torque reaction and vibration are correspondingly reduced. The flywheel is, of course, provided with connterbalance weights to balance the weights of the reciprocating elements connect'ed therewith. These counterbalance weights are preferably located at a point di'arnetrically opposite the center of mass and the present construction permits a closer approach to this condition than was heretofore feasible. A further advantage of the flywheel mounting resides inl that `it facilitates the ypositioning of the flywheel on the crankshaft between the bearings thereof and without materially increasing the unsupported length of the shaft.

At rest, all the three compartments of the casing are filled with oil up to a level indicated by dotted lines -20. This insures proper lubrication of the engine upon starting.`-The1flywheel in rotating splashes `the oil against the walls of its chamber. As shown in Fig. 3, one of the side walls 21 of the upper part of this chamber is provided .with a shelf 22 projecting from the wall 21 atan angle of about 45O and serving as a trough for oil splashedaround by the flywheel. The base of the shelf 22 is sloping towards the partition 7 and terminates in a screw-threaded opening 23 provided therein.; By means of a suitable nipple 24 a pipe 25 is connected with the shelf 22 through the opening 23. The other end of the pipe is bent Vat right angles and is inserted in Aan opening 2G provided in the casting 2 near the partition 8 and at a lower level than opening 23. Oil will gravitate through the pipe 25 into the chamber enclosing the transmission and rear axle. The wall 5 is provided with one or a plurality of small holes 27 of such size and so placed that the amount of oil flowing from the gear case back to the other two chambers is just sufficient for proper lubrication without givingrisel to flowing of oil past the piston. While the tractor is running, the level. of oil inthe gear case is a 28', in the central casing at 29, and in the lower casing of the flywheel at 30. The bearing of shaft 1() is lubricated through oil hole 31 and channels 32. The bearings of cated through oil hole 33 and pipe 34, the latter being connected with a collar 35 mounted on the crankshaft 10 and rotating therewith., Surplus oil from .the bearing 11 is collected in the collar 35 and fed to 'the connecting rod bearing 15 through pipe 34 under the action of centrifugal force. The iling of the Walls of the cylinder 3G within which piston 37 operates, is insured in the lusual manner by means of a cup 38 provided in the big end 15 of the connecting rod 4. It should be noted in this connection that, owing to its pasasge through the outside pipe 25 and the relatively large and-cool the cylinder walls is in proper condition materially to aid in the cooling thereof. This is of particularly great importance in aircooled engines. l

The crankshaft 10 carries on its end pro-yA jecting Within the gear case a worm 40 and a bevelled gear 41. The worm 40 drives, through the agency of a worm wheel 42, a camshaft 43 'which in tur'n controls in the usual manner through push rods like 44 the operation of the valves (not shown). The bevelled gear 41 is permanently in engagement with the bevelled transmission gears 45 and 46. The rotation of one or the other of gears 45 and 4G may be transmitted under the'. control of an internal expansion clutch associated lwith each gear wheel. The clutches of the two gears are identical and in the following description only one of the clutches will be referred to. A flange 47 provided on the gear 45 may be frictioi'ially engaged by'a collar 48 which is split as indicated at 49. The split collar is forced into frictional engagement with the inside of the cup-shaped flange 47 by means of a dog engaging jaws like 51 projectingfrom the ends of the ring 48 adjacent to its split ends. The dog 50 is operated against spring tension in the usual manner bythe sloping end 52 of a sleeve 53. The sleeve 53 is pushed towards the gear 45 and against the the connecting rod are lubrilgear case, the .oil that comes intov Contact with ysleeves and 58 are keyed j, to the two ends of shaft and serve also'as bearings forI ysaid shaft in the side walls of the gear case.

Each sleeve 55 and 58 is provided with two diametrically opposite cams like 61 (only one being shown as provided on sleeve 55) adapted to engage similar cams on the cooperating collar 57. Vhen the sloping sides of the cams like 61 engage the sloping side of a corresponding cam on the collar 57, then the collar 57 and with this the sleeve 53, are pushed against the dog 50, thereby engaging the clutch with the gear. The sleeves 58 and 55, together with the shaft 60, may be rocked by means of cranks 62 and 63 attached to such sleeves, said cranks being in turn actuated by means of rods 64 and 65, respectively. The two rods terminate in a bar 66 (see Fig. 1) which may be l lifted or lowered by means of a jaw 67 pivoted at 68 in the framework of the tractor 69. rllhe 67 is operated by means of a rod 70. The operator may actuate one or the other clutch by pulling orby pushing the rod 70, the releasing of the clutches being controlled by means of their associated springs.

Depending on which one of the two clutches'is actuated, the rotation of gear 45 or 46 is transmitted through its clutch to a sleeve mounted on the shaft 60. rlhis willv cause a small gear 76 keyed to the sleeve 75 at 77 to rotate in a clockwise or 'counterclockwise direction (depending on which one of the clutches is operated) and transmit such movement to the master gear 78 of the differential gearing. The differential comprises two bevelled gears 79 and 80 cooperating with bevelled gears 81 and 82 mounted on a shaft 83 which is rotatably supported in a housing 84. The hubs of bevelled gears 7 9 and 80 project within hubs 92 and 93 of the housing 84 and are engaged by the splined ends of shafts 85 and 86, respectively. These shafts are rotatably carried within ysleeves 87 and 88, respectively. The sleeves are attached to the side walls of the gear case through which they project, shoulders 90, 91 being provided for this purpose on the sleeves. ,The ends of the sleeves 87 and 88 that are inside of the gear case project within the hubs 92 and 93 of the housing 84 vand the other end of each sleeve is formed into a bearing like 94, 95 for the eccentric hubs 96, 97 of gear guard plates 98, 99. The gear 78 is fastened to lugs 100 and 101 of they housing 84 by means Y of cap screws like 102. rlhe lugs 100 and j 101 are set within corresponding grooves ,provided in the face of the gear 78 and Atransmit therefor' the motion of gear 78 toy housing 84 'Without placing any strain on the screws 102. The rotation of housing 84 is transmitted in the lusual manner through bevelled gears 81 and 82 to bevelled gears 79 and 80 and therethrough to the shafts 85 and 86. f

`Attached to the free ends of the shafts 85 and 86 are small gears like 103 which are in mesh with the bull gear like 104 of the associated bull Wheel 105 or 106. The bull gear 104 is bolted to the bull wheel at 107, 108. The assembled bull gear 104 and bull wheel 105 are mounted on a shaft 110, carrying also in suitable bearings, hub`111 of the plate 98. The hub 112 of plate 99`is carried von a corresponding shaft associated with the other bull wheel 106. 'Through the agency of the bull gears, the gears mounted on the ends of the shafts 85 and 86 cause the bull wheels 105 and 106 to rotate around shafts like 110, The tractor may then be propelled forward or backward.

An oblong guiding block 113 is carried side wallsA thereof in bearings 116 `and 117.

The guiding block 113 is held between two parallel bars fastened to the guard plate 98, only one of such bars 118 being shown in the drawing as attached to lugs 119 and 120 f projecting from the plate 98.l The worm gear 114 may be rotated by means of a `worm 121 mounted in suitable bearings and carried on a bracket 122 which is fastened to the upper part 2 ofthe casing.` yThe worm may be rotated by means of a shaft 123.

The other end of the shaft carries a 'cup-shaped housing 124. This housing is perforated at two points which serre as bearings for a screw-threaded shaft 125 held against longitudinal displacement by meansv of shafts pinned in bosses of casting, -but rotatable with respect to the cup 124. The

shaft 125 may be rotated by means of a rhandle applied to the notched end 128 of the shaft. The screw-threaded shaft 125 carries'a crosseh-ead 129 which is mounted thereon by means of a slide 130 which is correspondingly screw-threaded and heldv against a shoulder 131 of the cross-head 129 by means of a nut 132 mounted on the crosshead. Two bosses are projecting from the.

cross-head 129towards the bull wheel 106.

Only one of these bosses is shownv at 133.

These bosses are traversed'by parallel bars carried on'the guard plate 99,only one of lhen the operator of the `tractor wishes `to lower the bull wheel 105 and raise the vsuch bars 134 being shown supported on vlugs 135 and 136 of the guard plate 99. v

g in the cup.

Worm gear 1114 to rotate ina clockwise direction. Inasmueh as the guide-block 113 is confined between the guide bars 118, the rotation of the gear 1111 is transmitted through these bars to the guard plate 98 and the latter is rotatedY in a clockwise direction around a pivot point formed by the .shaft 85. This will, of course, displace through the agency of shaft 110, the bull wheel105, the latter with bull gear 10ft being rot-ated around the driving gear v103. Such displacement ofthe wheel may continue until the maximum displacement is obtained. The rotation of the worm 121 in the opposite direction will result in the raising of the bull wheel 105.

The worm gear 1111 rotates through. the shaft 115 the cup-shaped housing 124. The screw-threaded shaft 125 does Inot permit the displacement- `of the cross-head 129 with` The cross-head will, therefore, be rotated with the housing 1211, carrying with it the bull wheel 106 with which it is connected through the ears 133 and bars 134:. The bars 134 and 118 ar-e symmetrically mounted on their respective guard plates and the relative normal positions of the cross-head 129 and guide block 113 are as shown` in Fig. 2 of the drawings. lVhen the bull wheel 105 is rotated around 85 in one direction, the bull wheel 106 will be rotated around 86 in the opposite direction.

If it isdesired to raise or lower the two bull wheels together and thus raise or lower the body .of the tractor for the purpose of adapting it 'for various phases of the work (ploughing, cultivating, etc), then by rotating the screw 125, the cross-head 129 is moved into a position corresponding to that of guide block 113. lVhe'n the shaft 115 is now rotated through the agency of the worm 121, the initialposition of 129 and 113 being the same, both bull wheels will be rotated around 85 and 86 in the same direction and the ground clearance of the tractor thus varied. Inasmuch as the cross-head 129 remains in whatever position it may be set by the operator, the relative displacement of the bull wheels 105 and 106 is prevented under the last mentioned conditions. tractor might .easily tip over if it were possible to vary the positions of the bull. wheels with the center of gravity of the tractor at maximum. height. l y

If for any reason it is desiredio,vary the limits within which. the relative displacements of the bull wheels may be effected, the cross-head 129 is moved to seme other than an extreme position.

Attention is called to the sulistantial support that is provided for the bull wheel assembly by providing the leveling` arrangement in the form of two relatively long This is of importance because the and vstrong bars like 118 and 13,4, which are engaged by the heavy blocks 119 and 120. These supports for the bull wheels are at points which are practically diametrically opposite the driving gears and afford a very substantial protection against the usual side strains to which such wheels are subjected in the operation of 'the tractor..

What I claim is:

1. In a tractor, two ing arrangement for simultaneously displacing said wheels in opposite directions within predetermined limits, and means including a screw block for adjusting said arrangements simultaneously te displace said wheels .in the same vdirection within said limits.

2. In a tractor, two bull wheels, aflevelying arrangement including two oscillating members for simultaneously displacing said wheels in opposite directions, means for limiting the oscillating movements of said members, andmeans including a screw and guide rod operable at will for varying the initial position of one of said members so that the relative displacements of said wheels responsive to operation of said members can be adjusted.

3. In a tractor, two bull wheels, a leveling arrangement including a rotatable shaft and two members rotatable with the shaft, means including said members for simultaneously displacing said wheels in opposite directions, and means for varying the initial position of one of said members.

t. In a tractor, two bull wheels, a leveling arrangement including guide bars connected with the wheels and two guide blocks mounted on the tractor body and in engagement with said bars, a shaft rotatable at will, means responsive to the rotation of said shaft for relatively displacing saidblocks and bars, and means position of one of said blocks.

5. In a tractor, two bull wheels, a bull gear and gear guard for each wheel, a driving shaft, a gear at the end ofk said shaft in peripheral engagement with the bull gear, a pivot point for each bull wheel` concentric with said driving shaft, two relatively long bars rigidly supported on said gear guard at a point diametrically opposite the pivot points of said bull wheels, a guide block movablyattached to the body of said tractor and slidably held between said bars, means for .causing said guide block to move with respect to said bars and means for applying a force to said block at right angles to saidbars to force said block against said bars and cause displacement of said wheel.

6. In a tractor, two bull wheels, an eccen- `tric pivot for each bull wheel around which it may be rotated, al shaft, a worm gear secured to one end of said shaft, a screwthreaded shaft secured. to the other end of bull wheels, a levely for varying the initialsaid shaft, a worm for rotating said worm gear, two guide bars connected with one of said bull wheels, a guiding block secured to said worm gear and held between said guide bars, a cross-head mounted on said screwthreaded shaft andmovable within predetermined limits in response to the rotation thereof, two ears projecting from said crosshead, and two guiding bars connected with the other bull wheel traversing said ears.

7. In a tractor, two bull wheels, a leveling arrangement for simultaneously displacing said wheels in opposite directions comprising means for displacing one of said wheels in one direction, means for displacing the other of said wheels in the opposite direction, means inter-connecting said displacing means so that operation of the first mentioned means results in operation of the second mentioned means, and mechanism for adjusting said second mentioned means so as to cause displacement of both wheels Iin the same direction.

8. A tractor comprising a bull wheel, a. bearing member upon which said wheel is journaled, a bull gear attached to said wheel, a driving gear in peripheral engagement with said bull gear, a pivot point for said member concentric with said driving gear, two relatively long bars connected with said member at a point diametrically Opposite the pivot point of said member, a guide block niovably attached to the body of said tractor and slidably held between said bars, means for moving said guide block and means for thrusting said guide block against the side of said bars to cause displacement of said wheel.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 9th day of J une, 1924.

WILLIAM F. SMITH. 

